Electrodes coated with treating agent and uses thereof

• US 20040203124A1
• Filed: 03/29/2004
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alan D. King, Richard E. Walters
• Original Assignee: Alan D. King, Richard E. Walters
• Inventors: King, Alan D., Walters, Richard E.
• Application Number:
  US10/810,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203124A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/173.6
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/306 Arrangements where at least part of the apparatus is introduced into the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00

Abstract

An object of the invention is to provide a method for delivery of macromolecules into biological cells in the tissues of a patient and includes the steps of: (a) providing electrodes (16) in an electrode assembly (12), wherein the electrodes have fixed electrode surfaces (42) which are coated with at least one static layer of electrode releasable molecules (44) to be delivered; (b) providing a waveform generator (15) for generating electric fields; (c) establishing electrically conductive pathways between the electrodes (16) and the waveform generator (15); (d) locating the electrodes (16) such that the biological cells are situated therebetween, and (g) providing electric fields in the form of pulse waveforms from the waveform generator (15) to the electrodes (16), such that molecules in the at least one static layer of the electrode releasable molecules (44) on the electrodes (16) are delivered into the biological cells. The electrode releasable molecules (44) can be either electric field separable molecules and/or solvent separable material. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention. The static-coated electrode assembly (12) can be provided in a sterile package (24), from which the electrode assembly (12) is removed prior to use. The statically-coated electrode assembly (12) can be in a form of a disposable assembly (12) which is removable and replaceable from an electrode assembly holder (13).

Claims

1. (cancelled)

2. (cancelled)

3. (cancelled)

4. (cancelled)

5. (cancelled)

6. (cancelled)

7. (cancelled)

8. (cancelled)

9. (cancelled)

10. (cancelled)

11. (cancelled)

12. (cancelled)

13. (cancelled)

14. (cancelled)

15. (cancelled)

16. (cancelled)

17. (cancelled)

18. (cancelled)

19. (cancelled)

20. (cancelled)

21. (cancelled)

22. (cancelled)

23. (cancelled)

24. (cancelled)

25. An electrode which includes a coating having at least one static layer of electrode releasable molecules to be delivered into biological cells:

26. A plurality of electrodes of claim 25 which form an electrode assembly.

27. The electrode assembly of claim 26 wherein said plurality of electrodes are arranged in at least two parallel rows of electrodes.

28. The electrode assembly of claim 27 wherein said parallel rows of electrodes include needle electrodes.

29. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said molecules in said static coating are in a solid phase.

30. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said molecules in said static coating are in a gel.

31. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said electrode includes a fixed electrode surface which is coated with said static layer of electrode releasable molecules.

32. The electrode of claim 31 wherein:

said fixed electrode surface 42 includes a fixed surface matrix, and

said molecules in said static coating are in a liquid fixed on said fixed surface matrix.

33. The electrode of claim 31 wherein said fixed electrode surface includes solid surface particles.

34. The electrode of claim 33 wherein said solid surface particles are metal particles.

35. The electrode of claim 31 wherein said fixed electrode surface includes a liposome matrix.

36. The electrode of claim 31 wherein said fixed electrode surface includes a solid polymer matrix.

37. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said molecules in said static coating are macromolecules.

38. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include a polynucleotide vaccine.

39. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include a solid phase polynucleotide vaccine.

40. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include a DNA vaccine.

41. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include a solid phase DNA vaccine.

42. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include an RNA vaccine.

43. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include a solid phase RNA vaccine.

44. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include a protein-based vaccine.

45. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include a solid phase protein-based vaccine.

46. The electrode of claim 25 wherein said macromolecules in said static coating include an organ treating agent.

47. The electrode of claim 46 wherein said organ treating agent includes a deep tissue tumor treating agent.

48. The electrode of claim 25 which is in a form of a needle electrode.

49. The electrode of claim 25, wherein coating of said electrode with said static layer of molecules to be delivered to the biological cells is carried out by the following steps:

preparing a liquid medium in which a quantity of said molecules are carried,

contacting said electrode with the prepared medium, and

removing said electrode from the medium and drying off the medium, such that a static coating of said molecules remains on said electrode.

50. The electrode of claim 25 wherein coating of said electrode with said static layer of molecules to be delivered to the biological cells is carried out by the following steps:

preparing a liquid medium in which a quantity of said molecules are carried,

contacting said electrode with the prepared medium,

applying pulse waveforms to said electrode, such that a portion of said molecules are bound to said electrode, and

removing said electrode from the medium and drying off the medium, such that a coating of said molecules remains on said electrode.

51. (Cancelled)